Let's see, finished course work in 3 years--on schedule. Took 3 years to finished comps piecemeal, while I worked (at something then called the Exploratory Project for Economic Alternatives there in Washington, Max, run by Gar Alperovitz and Jeff Faux (never met Jeff)). Took another 3 years to dive into a massive dissertation, using the GI bill (full-time, while taking just enough diss credits (I think 6 a semester) to qualify for full time benefits, but stretch them out over that time). Took another 5 years to finish the D while working at a full-time job. That's 14 years.
It's record not likely to be broken, at least at my school. As I understand it, they've changed the rules. They're enforcing max times for finishing now; you can't do that anymore.
The real reason I finished was the pull of my D. It was on marxian secular crisis theories. So it was unalienated labor, in contrast to much of the other alienated labor I expended. So is your book, Doug, and, I hope, your D Yoshie. That means prospects look good.
My point is similar to Chuck Grimes'. You work, trying to maximize your unalienated/alienated quotient. What seems like an end to something is just another beginning. If you're lucky.
Note To Chuck: The Grundisse was the seven notebooks, later published as a book, that Marx used to write the volumes of Capital, which, of course, were never finished. I'm sure you know that, but it makes your point, doesn't it.
Moral of the story? Doug should find an Engels and keep writing.
RO
Rob Schaap wrote:
>
> Well, Doug's marvellous interview met the crucial requirement that I agreed
> with it all. I'd go on about how he pitched it beautifully, too - only I'm
> cross with him for not finishing the book. I ordered it months ago, with
> all kinds of other books, and I'll receive none of 'em till Doug's book is
> out (can't come at the postage costs otherwise). Shit, there may not even
> be an Amazon by then ...
>
> So I'm inviting Doug (and Yoshie and Kelley and all the other chronic
> non-finishers out there) into the phalanstery. Sure, geography prevents
> the expression of those Fourierist passions with due bodily commitment, but
> at least we can make a game of the fraught business of finishing books and
> dissertations. To the first to finish, I selflessly commit that bottle of
> Scotch Daniel owes me, and woebetide the one who hasn't finished before
> Barbara Cartland Perelman finishes his next book!
>
> Unityism in competition, I say!
>
> Happy 01 to all,
> Rob